North Branch Correctional Institution

CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Division of Correction is swearing in new wardens at two state prisons near Cumberland. Phil Morgan, formerly assistant warden at the medium-security Maryland Correctional Training Center near Hagerstown, took command Wednesday of the maximum-security Western Correctional Institution. Morgan succeeded Bobby Shearin, who moved next door to the maximum-security North Branch Correctional Institution. The former North Branch warden, John Rowley, has been put in charge of all public-works projects for the state prison system.

CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's prison agency says it is replacing the warden at the maximum-security North Branch Correctional Institution near Cumberland. The Division of Correction said Monday that John Rowley, the warden since 2007, will be replaced by Bobby Shearin, warden of the nearby, maximum-security Western Correctional Institution. Commissioner of Correction J. Michael Stouffer said Rowley is on leave. He said Rowley's 30 years of corrections experience will be put to use in another capacity to help the agency.

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- Three former state correctional officers face possible prison time at their sentencing in Cumberland for assaults on inmates at the North Branch Correctional Institution. Tony Nery, Richard Robinson and Kenneth Platter were scheduled for sentencing hearings Friday afternoon in Allegany County Circuit Court. They are the first to face sentencing in a brutality investigation that led to the firing of 22 officers last year from the maximum-security prison near Cumberland and the medium-security Roxbury Correctional Institution near Hagerstown.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's prisons chief says 23 correctional officers fired in a probe of alleged brutality against inmates were terminated justly and for "very compelling" reasons. Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard responded in a letter to two western Maryland state lawmakers who had asked him to consider reinstating the officers until a criminal investigation into the allegations is complete. Maynard told Republican Sen. George Edwards of Garrett County and Democratic Del. Kevin Kelly of Allegany County that the officers received due process under a law requiring the agency to take any disciplinary action within 30 days after learning of alleged misconduct.

A state prison inmate who died last week after being found unresponsive in his cell at North Branch Correctional Institution died from strangulation, Maryland State Police said in a press release Monday. Lewis J. Thompson Jr., 57, was found unresponsive in his cell at the maximum-security prison in Allegany County by correctional officers on Dec. 8. His death has been ruled a homicide. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. The investigation into Thompson's death is being conducted by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit.

Maryland state prison officials still have not determined how an inmate with a violent history escaped Friday from the Maryland Correctional Institution south of Hagerstown. Mark Vernarelli, spokesman for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Wednesday in an e-mail that officials would pass along information on the escape of inmate Dominic Webster as soon as it becomes available. Vernarelli said there is no evidence that Webster, 51, climbed over a fence or received help to escape.

HAGERSTOWN -- Although The Board of Public Works approved an Oct. 15 proposal to eliminate 100 vacant positions for correctional officers and correctional supply officers at a savings of $2.9 million, the Division of Correction still will be hiring, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard said Wednesday. In fact, the DOC is "upping recruiting efforts," Maynard said. The Division of Correction had 400 vacant positions including the 100 that won't be filled, so there still are about 300 positions to fill across the state, DOC Commissioner Michael Stouffer said Wednesday during a meeting with reporters and editors at The Herald-Mail.

HAGERSTOWN -- Charges against a former Roxbury Correctional Institution inmate who allegedly assaulted a correctional officer at the prison south of Hagerstown were dropped Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court. Kenneth Davis, 42, had been charged with second-degree assault on a Division of Correction employee and reckless endangerment. Upon review, prosecutors decided to dismiss the case against Davis. Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael said Tuesday that Davis was involved in an altercation with staff, and that he later ended up in the hospital after a severe beating.

HAGERSTOWN -- More than 20 correctional officers at Maryland prisons remain locked in appeals after being fired in April amid allegations of excessive force, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard said Wednesday morning after making a presentation to the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Maryland State Police continued a criminal investigation into the allegations, spokesman Greg Shipley said Wednesday afternoon. "The investigation continues to be a priority for investigators," Shipley said.

A state prison inmate who died last week after being found unresponsive in his cell at North Branch Correctional Institution died from strangulation, Maryland State Police said in a press release Monday. Lewis J. Thompson Jr., 57, was found unresponsive in his cell at the maximum-security prison in Allegany County by correctional officers on Dec. 8. His death has been ruled a homicide. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. The investigation into Thompson's death is being conducted by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit.

Maryland's prison chief said this week that a reorganization of the state prison system will reduce recidivism and improve the way inmates re-enter society upon their release. Gary D. Maynard, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Wednesday that part of the reorganization involves incarcerating prisoners in the same region where they committed their crimes. "Offenders that come into the system stay in that region, and when they re-enter they stay in that region," Maynard said in a telephone interview.

Maryland state prison officials still have not determined how an inmate with a violent history escaped Friday from the Maryland Correctional Institution south of Hagerstown. Mark Vernarelli, spokesman for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Wednesday in an e-mail that officials would pass along information on the escape of inmate Dominic Webster as soon as it becomes available. Vernarelli said there is no evidence that Webster, 51, climbed over a fence or received help to escape.

Maryland state prison officials on Monday were trying to determine how an inmate with a violent history escaped Friday from the Maryland Correctional Institution south of Hagerstown, a prison spokesman said. Mark Vernarelli, spokesman for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said officials were still in the process of investigating the incident. "The exact timeline, circumstances and movement of the inmate are key parts of the investigation, which remains at a critical (and early)

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- Three former state correctional officers face possible prison time at their sentencing in Cumberland for assaults on inmates at the North Branch Correctional Institution. Tony Nery, Richard Robinson and Kenneth Platter were scheduled for sentencing hearings Friday afternoon in Allegany County Circuit Court. They are the first to face sentencing in a brutality investigation that led to the firing of 22 officers last year from the maximum-security prison near Cumberland and the medium-security Roxbury Correctional Institution near Hagerstown.

HAGERSTOWN -- An inmate who was beaten in four different attacks over three consecutive eight-hour shifts at a prison south of Hagerstown was injured so badly that he was unrecognizable and spent four days in Washington County Hospital, according to allegations in documents recently made available in Washington County Circuit Court. Several correctional officers were fired, and others were criminally charged with second-degree assault, following the alleged attacks at Roxbury Correctional Institution on March 8 and 9, 2008.

CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Division of Correction is swearing in new wardens at two state prisons near Cumberland. Phil Morgan, formerly assistant warden at the medium-security Maryland Correctional Training Center near Hagerstown, took command Wednesday of the maximum-security Western Correctional Institution. Morgan succeeded Bobby Shearin, who moved next door to the maximum-security North Branch Correctional Institution. The former North Branch warden, John Rowley, has been put in charge of all public-works projects for the state prison system.

CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's prison agency says it is replacing the warden at the maximum-security North Branch Correctional Institution near Cumberland. The Division of Correction said Monday that John Rowley, the warden since 2007, will be replaced by Bobby Shearin, warden of the nearby, maximum-security Western Correctional Institution. Commissioner of Correction J. Michael Stouffer said Rowley is on leave. He said Rowley's 30 years of corrections experience will be put to use in another capacity to help the agency.

HAGERSTOWN -- Nine former officers at Roxbury Correctional Institution south of Hagerstown and six former officers at North Branch Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Md., have been charged in connection with March 2008 incidents, Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced Friday. The RCI officers each were charged with one count of second-degree assault for allegedly assaulting an inmate at the prison in March 2008, the Attorney General's office said in a news release.